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Kaorda Farms - Kaye Thomson
Feb 2018
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1. How did you get started in the Boer goat industry?
In about the late winter of 2004 I served on our local Jr Market Livestock committee and wrote the rules/recommended adding market goats to the market show/sale. In doing the research Dave and I became intrigued with Boer goats. And then in the following year Dave found out his cousin in Halsey Or had some commercial boer goats. We purchased our first 2 commerical boer goats in Nov. 2005. We began with the USBGA and used the native on appearance program and begun our trek into breeding Boer goats. Buying a few here and there and eventually started showing.
2. What does your operation look like today?
We now have %, Purebred and Fullblood breeding stock, all registered with the ABGA. The herd has grown to currently 58 kids, 14 yearlings, 33 mature does and 2 bucks.
3. What do you enjoy the most about the Boer goat industry?
I really enjoy showing the goats. It is a fun way to socialize with other breeders and to gauge what my progress is in developing the herd. I am also finding that goats are more social and personable than my cows. And they are easier for me to handle as I’m aging.
4. Who was an inspiration to you or assisted you in improving your herd and how did they help you.
I would have to say Leslie Bader-Robinson has been my mentor through all the years. From selling some really special does to help my herd surge ahead to always being on the other end of the phone when there has been a problem I didn’t know how to handle. Sandy Hemminger Norman has also been an inspiration for prepping and showing my goats. Now if I could just train them as well as she has done hers. Cary Heyward, Danette Emberlin-Fuhrer, and Dana Hayden-Childers have been great sounding boards for A-I breeding.
5. What has been your biggest challenge as a producer?
Marketing is my biggest challenge. Some of that is due to my skill set and also my location.
6. What are you most excited about in the coming year?
I look forward to the upcoming show season and seeing how some of my new genetics perform in the ring and sales. Meeting and getting to know more breeders.
In about the late winter of 2004 I served on our local Jr Market Livestock committee and wrote the rules/recommended adding market goats to the market show/sale. In doing the research Dave and I became intrigued with Boer goats. And then in the following year Dave found out his cousin in Halsey Or had some commercial boer goats. We purchased our first 2 commerical boer goats in Nov. 2005. We began with the USBGA and used the native on appearance program and begun our trek into breeding Boer goats. Buying a few here and there and eventually started showing.
2. What does your operation look like today?
We now have %, Purebred and Fullblood breeding stock, all registered with the ABGA. The herd has grown to currently 58 kids, 14 yearlings, 33 mature does and 2 bucks.
3. What do you enjoy the most about the Boer goat industry?
I really enjoy showing the goats. It is a fun way to socialize with other breeders and to gauge what my progress is in developing the herd. I am also finding that goats are more social and personable than my cows. And they are easier for me to handle as I’m aging.
4. Who was an inspiration to you or assisted you in improving your herd and how did they help you.
I would have to say Leslie Bader-Robinson has been my mentor through all the years. From selling some really special does to help my herd surge ahead to always being on the other end of the phone when there has been a problem I didn’t know how to handle. Sandy Hemminger Norman has also been an inspiration for prepping and showing my goats. Now if I could just train them as well as she has done hers. Cary Heyward, Danette Emberlin-Fuhrer, and Dana Hayden-Childers have been great sounding boards for A-I breeding.
5. What has been your biggest challenge as a producer?
Marketing is my biggest challenge. Some of that is due to my skill set and also my location.
6. What are you most excited about in the coming year?
I look forward to the upcoming show season and seeing how some of my new genetics perform in the ring and sales. Meeting and getting to know more breeders.
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